The National Film and Video Censors Board has issued a formal press statement warning the public, media organisations, and exhibition venues against participating in a scheduled press call and film premiere for an unclassified movie titled Living in Colors.
The event, which was advertised across various media channels, was set to take place over the weekend at a cinema facility in Lagos. However, preliminary investigations conducted by the regulatory board confirmed that promotional trailers circulating online depict explicit pornography and promote same sex relationships.
According to the official statement released by the management of the board, Living in Colors has neither been submitted, vetted, nor classified by the regulatory authority. Under Nigerian law, any public exhibition or promotion of an unclassified film is illegal.
In response to the planned event, the board announced that it is collaborating with federal and state security agencies, alongside the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center, to locate the individuals involved, disrupt the event, and halt the premiere at the designated venue.
The board also issued a direct warning to cinema operators and venue providers regarding the legal implications of hosting unclassified content. Management emphasized that providing a platform for unapproved films constitutes a direct breach of digital and theatrical content laws, carrying consequences that include the immediate sealing of the affected facility and the revocation of operational licences.
Furthermore, legal action is being initiated against the production company, individual producers, and key promoters associated with the project. The board noted that under the NFVCB Act and the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, creating, exhibiting, or distributing unclassified or legally prohibited content remains a severe criminal offence.
The regulatory authority reiterated its mandate to uphold national moral, cultural, and legal standards within the creative sector, advising content creators, media distribution platforms, and event organisers to desist from aiding the promotion of illegal works or face prosecution.
The statement was copied to key industry and regulatory stakeholders, including the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria, the Film Distributors Association of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, and major television networks including Channels Television, TVC News, Arise News, and African Independent Television.
